It’s by-election day in four federal ridings today and all eyes are on them, as they’re going to provide a test of just how far back from the wilderness the Liberals have come under the leadership of Justin Trudeau. While they’re not necessarily harbingers of what’s to come in next year’s general election, the two Toronto and two Alberta ridings up for grabs may go some ways toward answering some questions about the current political landscape.

The most crucial test will likely be in Trinity-Spadina, where the Liberals are going all-out to steal a seat held by the NDP since 2006 by Olivia Chow, the widow of beloved former party leader Jack Layton. Chow resigned to run for mayor of Toronto. An upset in that downtown Toronto riding would constitute a huge boost for Liberals and a big blow for New Democrats in the battle for position as the alternative in voters’ minds to the Harper Conservatives.

Joe Preston isn’t worried about votes. He’s the latest Conservative MP who’s decided not to run in the next election. He’s represented the southwest Ontario riding of Elgin-Middlesex-London since 2004. Preston released a statement yesterday saying he will serve out his term until next year’s election. He cited no reason for his decision, but said he has been honoured to be part of the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The Conservatives are snubbing officials from a select group of pariah states, ordering its diplomatic missions around the world not to invite them to receptions celebrating Canada Day tomorrow. Foreign Affairs circulates a “persona non grata” list in June each year, warning its embassies, consulates and other missions to bar them from local events marking Canada’s birthday. The department has refused to release its latest list, but The Canadian Press obtained last year’s version — likely little changed for 2014, with the possible inclusion of Russia for the first time. Here’s who won’t be at the party…

Never one to miss a party, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is set to return from rehab today to the intense public glare from which he has been relatively absent for two months since he was forced to seek help amid fresh allegations of drinking and drug use. Ford plans to resume his mayoral duties — curtailed by city council in November following his “drunken stupors”and crack-cocaine admissions — this afternoon, according to a letter he sent to the city clerk’s office.

Alberta Conservative MP Brian Storseth is speaking out against Employment Minister Jason Kenney’s changes to the temporary foreign worker program, calling for an exception to be made for the province. His comments come amid widespread controversy over the changes in Alberta. As the MP for the booming northeastern Alberta riding of Westlock-St. Paul, Storseth says the changes announced this month need to be reconsidered. “I’ve asked for an exemption for Alberta until we can come up with more than just a closing of the program. We have to have solutions to this,” Mr. Storseth told The Globe and Mail.

Meanwhile on the east coast, an unsettling state of affairs is developing in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province known for spawning big political personalities who play politics like a blood sport. The governing Progressive Conservative Party is having a terrible time attracting candidates to run for its leadership, even though the winner automatically gets the top prize –premier – without even having to face the electorate.

Sobering news this Canada Day weekend: The number of homeless people identified by Veterans Affairs Canada has skyrocketed over the last five years, jumping from just 35 in 2009-2010 to 236 last year. But the true figure could be much higher. Experts suggest there could be thousands of veterans living on the streets yet to be located by government and volunteer organizations. A City of Toronto report released last year revealed that 16 per cent of the 447 people sleeping on Toronto’s streets identified themselves as veterans.

This nation’s birthday is an occasion that often holds a special meaning for people who emigrated to the country — sometimes under difficult circumstances — and MPs are no exception. Currently, there are 40 members of Parliament who were born elsewhere, in places such as Ivory Coast, Poland and India. The Canadian Press spoke to three of them about the experience of coming to Canada and becoming a citizen.

It’s probably a good thing citizenship is a birthright for many Canadians, because if they had to pass a test to get it, the might have a hard time getting stamped with a maple leaf to denote a passing grade. It seems pride kinda outpaces knowledge. But while some Canadians aren’t sure on what date their country came into existence and are a bit sketchy about the opening lines of their national anthem, they’re still proud of the place they call home. In a new online survey, 80 per cent of respondents said citizens ought to show more patriotism for their home and native land.

While the pride may be present, the sponsors aren’t and that means London’s Trafalgar Square and New York’s Central Park won’t show any Canadian love on Canada Day this year — no real-life Mounties, no street hockey games, no performances by Canadian musicians. The lack of sponsorships has prompted organizers to cancel the annual celebrations just five years after Canada Day International — previously run by the government — was transferred to Rainmaker GBD, a Calgary business consulting firm. The events have attracted 600,000 people to date and were set to reach Hong Kong this year before telecommunications giant BlackBerry and Nexen, an Alberta oil and gas company — said they would not contribute to the program.

Tens of thousands of partyers will flock to Parliament Hill tomorrow where Public Works says its multibillion-dollar makeover is right on schedule and coming along. But an internal document casts doubts on that claim. The department has awarded itself top marks for on-time delivery of major projects in the parliamentary precinct, saying more than 90 per cent have met their deadlines. But Public Works’most recent report card shows that only about 70 per cent of all projects are actually on time. The rest are behind schedule — some of them by a long way — but the department gives itself good grades anyway because it either plans to adjust the schedule to accommodate straggling projects or find a way to catch up.

Here and there:

Gov. Gen David Johnston will hop on his bike and ride with Clara Hughes today in Arnprior to show support for her efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues.

Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield arrives in a Second World War P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft just before his presentation to a group of 400 local youth in Gatineau chosen by organizations such as the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

The Al-Qaeda breakaway group that has seized much of northern Syria and huge tracks of neighbouring Iraq formally declared the creation of an Islamic state yesterday in the territory under its control.The spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham, Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani, made the announcement in an audio statement posted online. Islamic extremists have long dreamed of recreating the Islamic state, or caliphate, that ruled over the Middle East for hundreds of years. Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani said the group’s chief, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, is the new leader, or caliph, of the Islamic state. He called on those living in the areas under the organization’s control to swear allegiance to Al-Baghdadi and support him.

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton toured a peanut depot in central Haiti yesterday with Canadian philanthropist Frank Giustra, a mining mogul who also founded Lions Gate Entertainment. The pair announced the launch of the Acceso Peanut Enterprise Corporation at the storage and service depot in Tierra Muscady. Part of a new enterprise aimed at helping roughly 12,000 small farmers, the depot is one of a network in central and northern Haiti designed to provide storage, a market, training, and supplies for peanut farmers. Five of 35 planned peanut depots are now open.